CroisiEurope’s Michelangelo sails Italy’s Po River – and you can sail there at Christmas. Photo courtesy of CroisiEurope.

On offer this year are dozens of distinct itineraries ranging in length from three to eight days. What makes these voyages particularly noteworthy is that CroisiEurope has further broken them down according to the time of year in which they operate, designing separate itineraries for Christmas, New Year’s, and the fabled Christmas Markets that run up until Christmas Eve.

CroisiEurope is also one of the few lines to spread their Christmas-themed itineraries out over a large expanse of Europe, with voyages beginning in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. Particularly noteworthy is the line’s Venice and the Venetian Lagoon at Christmas, a five-day itinerary that allows guests to arrive in Venice in time for a tour of St. Mark’s Square and midnight mass within the striking confines of St. Mark’s Basilica.

Noteworthy CroisiEurope Christmas, Christmas Markets and New Year’s itineraries on offer this year:

Christmas Markets of France, Belgium and Germany:

Christmas in Alsace,Potter Villages and Revue at the Royal Palace – 4 Days: Explore the Rhine while visiting the Potter Village and Europe’s Christmas market in Strasbourg.

Christmas Magic in Belgium – 4 Days: Beginning in Brussels, visit the city’s Christmas market before heading to Antwerp to visit the Cathedral, which houses two works by Rubens, then on to Bruges’ Christmas market.

A Bountiful Christmas in Alsace and the Black Forest- 4 Days: Sail along the Rhine and visit Colmar’s Christmas market and a cuckoo clocks workshop in the Black Forest.

Christmas Time Cruises:

Discover Brussels and the Treasures of Flanders – 5 Days: Celebrate the holidays in Brussels with a Christmas Eve dinner, midnight mass in Ghent and city tours.

Christmas in the Bordeaux Region on the Gironde and Dordogne Rivers – 5 Days: Tour medieval cities within the region with city tours and midnight mass in Bordeaux.

Venice and the Venetian Lagoon at Christmas – 5 Days: Journey along the Po and take part in an excursion by private boat to visit the islands in the Venetian Lagoon prior to arrival in Venice for a tour of St. Mark’s Square and midnight mass at St. Mark’s Basilica.

New Year’s Voyages:

New Year in the Bordeaux Region on the Gironde and Dordogne River – 5 Days: Welcome 2015 from the medieval cities in Bordeaux with Chateaux tours and a New Year’s dinner.

Italian New Year in Venice – 5 Days: Ring in the New Year exploring Italy’s art, lagoons and history on this five-day tour capped off with a New Year’s champagne dinner.

Can’t Find What You Need?

Comparing River Cruise Companies

Most river cruise vessels are the same length, the same width and they have the same number of decks. And many sail the same rivers on similar itineraries. But there are some key differentiators that can make or break your cruise, depending on what's included, and more often, what's not.

How To Choose Your River Cruise

Choosing a river cruise can be a source of consternation, confusion and frustration. In Europe alone there are more than two dozen navigable rivers and canals. Add the confluence of companies offering seemingly similar experiences and you might just end up feeling as though you’re going upriver without a paddle, so to speak.

Price Comparisons

Comparative 2018 pricing for river cruises in similar staterooms across all operators. Broken down by river and region. For comparison purposes, we looked for staterooms of equivalent sizes and features, namely those with French balconies or step-out balconies. Find out what you should be paying (or could be paying) for your river cruise.

My Live Reports From The Rivers

In 2017, I cruised on Crystal, Avalon, AmaWaterways, Viking, Scenic, CroisiEurope and Emerald Waterways. Read about these cruises (and check out the videos that my team and I produced) for inspiration of what might work for you. You can also read about my cruises from 2016 and 2015, from cruises on luxury hotel barges to river cruise ships plying the Rhine, Danube and more. You'll find a treasure trove of free resources to help you choose your cruise.